Shane Lowry upset with USGA over 'big guys' U.S. Open pairing

Shane Lowry watches his shot during a practice round prior to the start of the 2014 U.S. Open.

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Thursday, June 12, 2014

Shane Lowry, an Irish golfer in the field at Pinehurst this week, is excited to be playing in the U.S. Open but "annoyed" with the United States Golf Association.

In an op-ed for The Irish Times, Lowry accused the USGA of being "a bit cheeky" by pairing of the 225-pound Lowry with 230-pound Brendon de Jonge of South Africa and 243-pound Kevin Stadler of the United States for the first two rounds of the U.S. Open.

"Someone’s bright idea!! Put the three big guys together!!" writes Lowry. "I think it is unfair on the three of us. It is definitely not drawn out of the hat, that’s for sure. And I just hope we don’t get stick from the galleries. What they did is making a mockery of the three of us. I spoke to Graeme McDowell, and he thinks I should say something to the USGA about it. I’ve always had a bit of extra weight. I have worked on my fitness, but people don’t always see that."

Lowry, 27, has two professional wins since turning pro in 2009, both of them coming on the European Tour.